Daily Digest – Morning Teahttps://www.morningtea.in
Morning TeaMon, 18 Feb 2019 05:12:05 +0000en-UShourly1Perfectly Imperfecthttps://www.morningtea.in/perfectly-imperfect-2/
https://www.morningtea.in/perfectly-imperfect-2/#respondSat, 24 Nov 2018 07:36:56 +0000https://www.morningtea.in/?p=12408Growing up, all we are taught about is to be perfect. This notion of perfection includes excelling at everything under the sun and be the best that is out there. It doesn’t matter if you are competing with one other person or thousands of them. You have to beat them to be perfect. At everything you do.

Students and children are often taught that they would be perfect only if they excel at academics, art, dance, music and sports (pardon me if I forgot any other category). And God forbid you are average at even one of them, you would not be deemed perfect anymore. This approach to life also hinders their growth in the later stages when they grow up to be adults who cannot comprehend what they want from their lives.

To me, this whole idea is ridiculous. How can a human being, an imperfection created by God, be perfect in every way? We are after all just another species on this earth and not some kind of robots, though they too are not exactly what we can call perfect. We are all ‘programmed’ to make mistakes. And we will make them.

If these mistakes or shortcoming make us any less perfect, so be it. Because I feel that imperfections are the only way to life. If you consider this for instance, a perfect man could never be happy. After mastering one aspect in his life, he will still feel empty inside, like his life is still not perfect because there exists another particular thing which he has not excelled in. Now he has to work hard for that. So instead of feeling guilty and unhappy that he is imperfect, why can’t he just be satisfied knowing he’s the best at one feat?

Only an imperfect person would have the passion and courage to take risks and actually do things in his life.Why, you may ask? Because he has nothing to lose. He is already not perfect for the world, so why not go another mile and do something new and challenging to his personality. The most that could happen is failure and since he is not afraid of it, it would not matter to him what others think of it. Maybe what he does will give some meaning to his life. At the end of the day, you could be perfectly imperfect for yourself and that is all what matters.

]]>https://www.morningtea.in/perfectly-imperfect-2/feed/0Can you give up?https://www.morningtea.in/can-you-give-up/
https://www.morningtea.in/can-you-give-up/#respondWed, 21 Nov 2018 06:06:47 +0000https://www.morningtea.in/?p=12404“You can do it. Just a little more effort. You’re almost there. You’re the hero. I know you have it in you. You can’t give up.”

Well, here’s some newsflash for you. You can give up.

Be it movies, songs, books, everyone’s pushing the protagonist to do a thing which is clearly out of their scope. They may not have the physical or mental strength to do the thing but we still expect them to. It doesn’t matter whether you want to do that thing or whether it’s actually for a greater good. You just have to do it. You cannot give up. Because giving up is for losers. And the hero cannot be a loser, right? Or it’s the opposite? A loser cannot be a hero?

Shah Rukh Khan’s character from Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi was a scrawny guy who tried to fight with a samurai. Since they are selling their movie to you and it’s ‘the SRK’, obviously he’s going to win that fight. But think about this. You are up against some buffy wrestler let alone a professional sumo wrestler. Do you think you stand a teensy bit chance? You have your answer right there.

Provided this whole notion of not giving up works on some people, but it’s warping the minds of others. Most people cause some irreversible damage while not giving up. And more often than not, this damage is to them. I am not saying giving up is a good thing. But it’s not a bad thing either. Don’t you think, it would be nice to have an option of giving up, backing down from doing a particular thing when it is clearly out of our reach and not be judged for it?

Most of you might not know this but there is a Disney movie Moana whose scene would be apt in a situation like this. When Moana confesses she couldn’t defeat the villain, Te Fiti, her Grandma says this:

It’s not your fault. I never should have put so much on your shoulders. If you are ready to go home… I will be with you.

Moana defeated Te Fiti in the end. But that wasn’t because someone pushed her to do that. Instead, she realised her power and strength on her own. This just shows that even if you don’t have enough strength to do something, you are not a loser. What matters is you gave your best. And there will be people who’re there for you, supporting you even when you get defeated in life because it’s not your fault. It was just too much burden.

Or a more relatable example would be Aamir Khan’s character in 3 Idiots who fought against all odds to study not because someone was pushing or cheering him but because he himself wanted to do that.

Having said all that, I’m not against actually working hard. But the focus remains on working hard because you yourself want to achieve something. What I’m saying is we should all try to find our inner voice and be happy with whatever outcome there is to our situations.

]]>https://www.morningtea.in/can-you-give-up/feed/0THIS NIGHT LASTS FOREVERhttps://www.morningtea.in/this-night-lasts-forever/
https://www.morningtea.in/this-night-lasts-forever/#respondFri, 16 Nov 2018 06:07:47 +0000https://www.morningtea.in/?p=12397Losing myself, here, in
this small space, with you
Can’t find you, either:
it’s a different plane.
Making the most of our time,
going to new highs and lows.
I’m hanging by the edge of a cliff,
almost there, almost there:
I feel you the hardest.
One more stroke, one more push,
and I fall, I fall deep
Drowning now: in your sea,
looking you in the eye;
You’re as wasted as me.
Hurting, I’m hurting,
you kill me: one more time.
The sweet agony, I rise again
I’m touching the skies, soaring
above the clouds, high, so high;
The heat engulfs me,
you take me to places I’ve never been.
Reaching the highest, we both drop,
Hearts, purring together, coming
to a stop; Gazing at the world
inside your eyes, filled with
love and content, I wish,
This night lasts forever and ever
]]>https://www.morningtea.in/this-night-lasts-forever/feed/0For All My Life, I’ll Wonder Whyhttps://www.morningtea.in/for-all-my-life-ill-wonder-why/
https://www.morningtea.in/for-all-my-life-ill-wonder-why/#respondMon, 12 Nov 2018 08:54:17 +0000https://www.morningtea.in/?p=12392Are you still waiting for some last explanations? Perhaps you were never really meant to get them ever. For if you think about it, what is closure really? Is it the memories behind those lilting words? Or is it the agony of those harsh words?

Most of the people have someone in their lives with whom they lost contact over a period of time. Some goodbyes were intentional on both sides while many were aided with a sudden abruptness for no apparent reason at all. Yet somewhere in your mind, you might still be expectant on some form of communication regarding why.

Closure is a funny thing, meaning different things to different people. But all someone wants is to feel some sort of resolution to a relationship. What will break your heart though is the fact that most people never get to really experience the closure they want. And even if they do get closure, it will be in some unexpected form.

For some people, closure is having the person who wronged them admit to the said wrongdoing. As rarely as it happens, this will not help you reach a space of healing though.

For some, closure means the other person providing an explanation for his actions, right or wrong. The wronged party feels that it will help them move on in their lives.

Then comes closure in the form of revenge. You wait to witness something bad to happen to the person who wronged you or you take things in your hands and try to wreck their lives. This is always empty. It will give you a false sense of satisfaction because in the end, you are still hurting. On top of that, you regret your actions.

Closure is like the last chapter of a book, a book that you are writing. And whenever you finish a book, you move on to the new one. If you get stuck on that one book and just look back on the past, it will always leave you feeling salty. Instead, you could decide what you want as your own ending and move on with your life by resolving your issues.

Imagine what closure means to you. Is it an apology you are waiting for or something you wanted to say to the other person? If it is revenge, figure out why you need revenge instead of a revenge plot. Now write it down as a letter, rant all you want.

When you are finally free of all you wanted to say or be said, figure out your future strategy. Focus on your life ahead. Whatever your need be for a closure, the endgame remains moving on.

]]>https://www.morningtea.in/for-all-my-life-ill-wonder-why/feed/0Pure Joyhttps://www.morningtea.in/pure-joy/
https://www.morningtea.in/pure-joy/#respondTue, 06 Nov 2018 04:57:37 +0000https://www.morningtea.in/?p=12388When the lock didn’t give in, I checked and saw I was turning the key wrong. ‘Ecstatic much’, I mocked myself. After a brief pause, I reminded myself that I have no reason to not to be happy- I was promoted!
And my position was higher than his.I’d always told him, I will go places.Suddenly I could feel the weight of that letter. I hurriedly bolted the door shut from the inside, and sat on the sofa. ‘We are pleased and honoured to inform you that you have been promoted…’ oh finally, after eight months! With the letter still in my hand, I calculated my new pay. I could see my house getting painted, my sofas getting replaced and loads of shopping in the days to come. Life was going to be so much better.When I couldn’t choose between lavender or crimson curtains, I became conscious of the growing sounds from my bowel. Huh, was I hungry. I got up and went to the refrigerator. Apart from milk which was more than a week old, there was nothing inside. ‘Useless’, I thought and I went straight to the kitchen shelf. Nothing. My hunger was growing. 2 in the night, and I had nothing to eat. With blurred images of someone going and getting me pasta at 3:30 am ages ago popping in my mind, I was getting the first tears in my eyes. ‘No!’ I screamed. I decided to tell myself what I had been telling myself since the last four years, since I asked him to leave me. ‘I can take care of myself!’ I shouted. And finally I broke into tears, lots and lots of them sliding down my cheeks.
It was the biggest lie of my life.
It was a big city, I was thousands of kilometres away from my home, and I was alone. All alone. The house, at once, was emptier than ever. I felt loneliness nagging at me. I stared into the space in front of me, and found nothing but hollowness. Pinching. I glanced down at the letter, now just a piece of paper on the floor.
Sobbing, I looked at the fancy wall clock I’d bought last month. 3:30.
I took my phone and dialed the number after almost an eternity.
Two rings. ‘Hello?’ said a familiar voice. ‘I’m hungry’, I told him.
Pause.
‘Will be there in a few.’

So we lie here today
a feet apart, in the same place
So we face each other today
minds mate, bodies kept at bay
So just our fingertips touch today
fervour of teenagers in their first love
So we debate, and discuss today
fear of being misunderstood, escapes away
So we savour the moonlight today
and the vague shapes of the clouds that sway
So we chuckle and giggle today
souls in another dimension, happy and gay
So we complete each other today
lost and found, in every way
So we silently revel today
If this isn’t love
Then what else is?

]]>https://www.morningtea.in/what-else-is-love/feed/0How To Increase Performance Of Your Support Teamhttps://www.morningtea.in/how-to-increase-performance-of-your-support-team/
https://www.morningtea.in/how-to-increase-performance-of-your-support-team/#respondSat, 03 Nov 2018 05:09:59 +0000https://www.morningtea.in/?p=12369It can get quite frustrating for management when junior employees do not bring their A game to the office. It may take a while to keep them geared with the objective of improving their performance. But a boss has to do what a boss has to do to ensure that support staff is well motivated. Here are a few suggestions and simple measures that a firm can adopt to ensure that the performance of support teams are top of the line.

Champion the Team to Bring their Best

Encouragement never went out of style or favour in any walk of life. In the office, this simple method works brilliantly when staff members have done their job and more. A pat on the back is a great reward but appreciation of the smart service handled by a professionally motivated employee is a game changer. This lets on to the rest of the team that the person has gone over and above her/his call of duty. As a way forward, not only does the professional feel the love but the rest of the team also pulls up their socks to become star players.

Motivational Tools

A reward program is a great motivational method to improvise morale and increase productivity. When employees are ensured that they will be cashing in on their skills because of good performance, they up their game with a different construct to the customer support table. The objective is not to dangle a bone at employees, but use this as a tool so that they think ahead instead of staying in a rut. The reward can be in a bonus cash form or a holiday package for the individual and the family. Simple rewards programs always boost employee morale.

Keep the Flow of Competition Going

Keeping the competitive spirit going among team member can get crazy. The objective is to push the envelope so that the brand and the employee’s professional abilities do not suffer. It also steers the team to the right track as they push the envelope. A good manager will be able to ascertain what works well in the process. Since the main objective is not only to carve a niche in the world of barter but to ensure employee productivity. When both work in tandem, the brand benefits. In the simple speech, there is a win-win as they compete with each other for the prize.

Outdoor Drives are Motivational Tools

Another most driven motivational tool is a work outing, probably a weekend getaway. Obviously, the bills are taken care of by the company. This productive drive brings both junior and mid-management together as they work towards building a stable brand. Naturally during the outing, talking shop should not be the main agenda. However, while everyone lets their hair down, it makes sense to change the conversation towards work and the need to up the ante to give the competition a fierce opposition. During the outing, a customer service skills program is a good idea. It not only gets management and junior employees together, but it also keeps the energy flowing.

Improving the Receivables

One of the most critical aspects of brand development and other areas of barter is the billing and receivable schedule. Most likely the finance department may be involved in this area, but in all aspects so does the rest of the team – the sales personnel, marketing team, back office and customer support, human resource and so on and so forth. In customer service, being pleasant with customers is crucial to the brand. Management should make pretty sure that every customer service representative has been trained suitably and is motivated. For instance, many companies offer lunch or breakfast at a nominal rate or as a freebie for employees. While it may be an additional expense for the company, when employees know that they need not go out of the office to eat, their work improves.

The Best Motivational Tool – Study More

Provide employees with an additional program – an educational incentive. Using this as a performance enhancer in the workplace takes motivational methods to the next level entirely. Practically every employee today wants to up her/his educational qualifications. Education is a very important piece of the professional pie. Most companies today expect their employees to be well educated and savvy. When an education program is offered to employees, it works rather well, as the support team feels driven to bring their A game to the workplace. Management may offer this to employees by handling their education. Another point of view is to provide this additional initiative to the support team to egg them on to get ahead in life rather than being under motivated.

The Takeaway

Training and development programs are excellent best human resource tools that keep employees motivated and on their toes. By incentivizing employees the brand stands to gain. When employees from other companies hear about the benefits available with a certain firm, they will flock towards the brand putting the firm on the right track. As the goals remain focused and very clear to the support team, they will make sure that they deliver at every time.

]]>https://www.morningtea.in/how-to-increase-performance-of-your-support-team/feed/0Meadowhttps://www.morningtea.in/meadow/
https://www.morningtea.in/meadow/#respondThu, 01 Nov 2018 11:42:58 +0000https://www.morningtea.in/?p=12379there was nobody in sight
It was a cold winter night
The clouds were darker than ever
The mist had risen a little higher
There was a storm brewing
I knew it would rain, heavy
But I had a confession to make
The gravel grey shade of the sky
was waiting for my words
The heart next to me
was drumming with impatience
An insect whirred by, in a rush
Now we were entirely alone
The first drops began to fall
With small plinks, as they hit the ground. ‘It’s raining, let’s go’, he said
But I had a confession to make
His steps made marks in the mud
A trail for me to follow
I smiled and said out loud; ‘Walk with me’
The confession was made..
]]>https://www.morningtea.in/meadow/feed/0That Summerhttps://www.morningtea.in/that-summer/
https://www.morningtea.in/that-summer/#respondTue, 30 Oct 2018 11:02:39 +0000https://www.morningtea.in/?p=12374That Summer on shore, hand in hand